Rich drag drop user interface

Abstract

In an electronic file system, preview information is provided to the user during a drag operation of a selected object onto a target object. The information indicates what type(s) of action is to be taken should the selected object be dropped onto the target object. The action(s) to be taken may depend upon the type of the selected object and/or the type of the target object. For example, where the selected object is an item and the target object is a persisted auto-list, the action may include adding, removing, or modifying one or more properties of the selected object to conform to one or more criteria defined by the persisted auto-list. Also, numerical feedback may be provided to the user where multiple objects are selected. For example, where seven objects are selected, the textual number “7” may appear next to the cursor.

1 . A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
 responsive to detecting a first request to associate a first object with a first folder in a graphical user interface, presenting to a user feedback that the first object will be moved into the first folder as a result of the first request to associate the first object with the first folder;   moving the first object into the first folder;   responsive to detecting a second request to associate a plurality of objects with a second folder in a graphical user interface, presenting to the user feedback that the plurality of objects will be moved into the second folder as a result of the second request to associate the plurality of objects with the second folder and presenting the user feedback indicating a number of the plurality of objects to be moved; and   moving the plurality of objects into the second folder.   
   
   
       2 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the first request is a drag/drop operation of the first object onto the first folder. 
   
   
       3 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback associated with the first request includes a move icon in the graphical user interface associated with the first object. 
   
   
       4 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 3 , wherein the feedback to the first request includes a textual explanation that the first object will be moved to the first folder. 
   
   
       5 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 4 , wherein the textual explanation includes a name of the first folder. 
   
   
       6 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1  storing computer-executable instructions to further perform operations comprising:
 responsive to detecting a third request to associate a third object with a third folder in the graphical user interface, presenting to the user feedback that the third object will be moved into the third folder as a result of the third request to associate the third object with the third folder and displaying a window listing a child folder within the third folder;   responsive to detecting a fourth request to associate the third object with the child folder, presenting to the user feedback that the third object will be moved into the child folder as a result of the request to associate the third object with the child folder; and   moving the third object into the child folder.   
   
   
       7 . A method implemented using a processor and a computer-readable storage medium, the method comprising:
 responsive to detecting a first request to associate a first object with a first folder in a graphical user interface, presenting to a user feedback that the first object will be moved into the first folder as a result of the first request to associate the first object with the first folder;   moving by the processor the first object into the first folder;   responsive to detecting a second request to associate a plurality of objects with a second folder in a graphical user interface, presenting to the user feedback that the plurality of objects will be moved into the second folder as a result of the second request to associate the plurality of objects with the second folder and presenting the user feedback indicating a number of the plurality of objects to be moved; and   moving by the processor the plurality of objects into the second folder.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first request is a drag/drop operation of the first object onto the first folder. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the feedback associated with the first request includes a move icon in the graphical user interface associated with the first object. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the feedback to the first request includes a textual explanation that the first object will be moved to the first folder. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the textual explanation includes a name of the first folder. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 responsive to detecting a third request to associate a third object with a third folder in the graphical user interface, presenting to the user feedback that the third object will be moved into the third folder as a result of the third request to associate the third object with the third folder and displaying a window listing a child folder within the third folder;   responsive to detecting a fourth request to associate the third object with the child folder, presenting to the user feedback that the third object will be moved into the child folder as a result of the request to associate the third object with the child folder; and   moving the third object into the child folder.   
   
   
       13 . A computing device including a processor and computer-storage medium storing computer-useable instructions that, when used by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method for managing image and non-image files and folders, the method comprising:
 responsive to detecting a first request to associate a first object with a first folder in a graphical user interface, presenting to a user feedback that the first object will be moved into the first folder as a result of the first request to associate the first object with the first folder;   moving by the processor the first object into the first folder;   responsive to detecting a second request to associate a plurality of objects with a second folder in a graphical user interface, presenting to the user feedback that the plurality of objects will be moved into the second folder as a result of the second request to associate the plurality of objects with the second folder and presenting the user feedback indicating a number of the plurality of objects to be moved; and   moving by the processor the plurality of objects into the second folder.   
   
   
       14 . The computing device of  claim 13 , wherein the first request is a drag/drop operation of the first object onto the first folder. 
   
   
       15 . The computing device of  claim 13 , wherein the feedback associated with the first request includes a move icon in the graphical user interface associated with the first object. 
   
   
       16 . The computing device of  claim 15 , wherein the feedback to the first request includes a textual explanation that the first object will be moved to the first folder. 
   
   
       17 . The computing device of  claim 16 , wherein the textual explanation includes a name of the first folder. 
   
   
       18 . The computing device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 responsive to detecting a third request to associate a third object with a third folder in the graphical user interface, presenting to the user feedback that the third object will be moved into the third folder as a result of the third request to associate the third object with the third folder and displaying a window listing a child folder within the third folder;   responsive to detecting a fourth request to associate the third object with the child folder, presenting to the user feedback that the third object will be moved into the child folder as a result of the request to associate the third object with the child folder; and   moving the third object into the child folder.